OPEN THREAD: GOP Top Ten Debate

Watch along with us and weigh in during the main GOP debate at 9PM eastern. The event will be live-streamed on Fox News where you'll need your cable system login to watch.

Chris Christie Vows To Enforce Federal Marijuana Laws If Elected President

Chris Christie is looking for an angle to get him on that debate stage. Bloomberg reports:

Residents in U.S. states that have legalized marijuana should toke up while they still can, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said. “If you’re getting high in Colorado today, enjoy it,” Christie, a Republican campaigning for the 2016 presidential nomination, said Tuesday during a town-hall meeting at the Salt Hill Pub in Newport, New Hampshire. “As of January 2017, I will enforce the federal laws.” At a time when a majority of Americans say recreational pot use should be legal, and four states have already made it so, Christie remains opposed. The former federal prosecutor said Democratic President Barack Obama has selectively chosen which laws to enforce. Christie is trying to pump up his candidacy ahead of the first Republican debate on Aug. 6 by talking to voters in New Hampshire, the state with the first primary.

Christie currently ranks ninth in the GOP polls.

New Chris Christie Campaign Ad: I'm Not Looking To Be The Most Popular Guy

REPORT: Christie To Announce Next Week

It's looking like Chris Christie will announce his presidential bid next week.

The New Jersey governor’s planning has intensified in recent days. On Monday, his campaign-in-waiting announced that he’d hired two additional staffers in New Hampshire, a state seen as critical to his White House hopes. Earlier this month, Maria Comella, a longtime Christie aide, departed the governor’s official office to take a senior position at his political action committee. A Christie spokeswoman, Samantha Smith, declined to comment. The governor’s aides have previously said that he isn’t likely to launch his presidential campaign until the New Jersey legislature finalizes the state budget — expected to be around the end of June. Christie’s once-stratospheric poll numbers — both nationally and in his home state — have since plummeted. A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released on Tuesday showed Christie with just a 30 percent approval rating in New Jersey, while a Suffolk University poll showed him winning the support of only 5 percent of likely voters in New Hampshire.

Christie would become the 13th declared GOP candidate. Still in the wings: Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich.

Headline Of The Day

From New Jersey Watchdog:

Chris Christie’s expense account tells a story of appetite and ambition, one that pits government waste versus the New Jersey governor’s waistline. Christie spent $360,000 from his state allowance during his five years in office. More than 80 percent of that money, or $300,000, was used to buy food, alcohol and desserts, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis of records released by the governor’s office.

In addition to his $175,000 a year salary, the governor receives $95,000 a year in expense advances, paid quarterly by the state. In the state budget, it is listed as “an allowance of funds not otherwise appropriated and used for official receptions on behalf of the state, the operation of an official residence, for other expenses.” Christie’s most notable spending spree occurred during the 2010 and 2011 NFL football seasons at MetLife Stadium, where the New York’s Giants and Jets play their home games. New Jersey’s governor traditionally enjoys free use of luxury boxes for games and other events at the government-owned venue, but food and beverages cost extra.

On 58 occasions, Christie used a debit card to pay a total of $82,594 to Delaware North Sportservice, which operates the concessions at MetLife. The governor’s office did not provide any receipts, business reasons or names of individuals entertained, but defended the expense. “The official nature and business purpose of the event remains the case regardless of whether the event is at the State House, Drumthwacket or a sporting venue,” said Christie’s press secretary Kevin Roberts in a prepared statement.

The state GOP has repaid the purchases made at the stadium, which averaged about $1500 per game. New Jersey Watchdog is suing Christie to provide itemization of nearly $1M spent on personal security since taking office.

Christie Not Kirstie

Yesterday's headline by the New York Times caused many to believe that actress Kirstie Alley was pleading guilty to the Bridgegate scandal. The actress's name trended on Twitter for much of the day.

Chris Christie: I'm Ready To Run In 2016

Via the Huffington Post:

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said he's finally ready for a White House run. In an interview with Yahoo's Matt Bai, Christie said he had no regrets about passing on a presidential run in 2012, when many were urging him to launch a campaign. "I wasn’t ready," Christie told Yahoo. "And in the end, remember something: Everything that everybody said back in 2011 about me running in 2012 was all theoretical. It was all based on the inherent assumption of ‘He’ll do well if he performs well.’ Well, that second part of the sentence is really important. The only way you’re going to perform well is if you believe in your heart that you’re ready to be president. And I didn’t. And so there was no way I would have won in 2012. I wouldn’t have, because I wasn’t ready.”

Christie says he'll reveal his decision in May or June. Like most of the GOP field, he is polling in the single digits among likely Republican voters. Only Scott Walker and Jeb Bush are polling higher than 10% and only barely for both.

LIVE: GOP Leaders Speak At CPAC

Chris Christie Joins CPAC 2015 Roster

CPAC organizers today announced the addition of Chris Christie to this year's speakers roster. Christie, as you may know, is one of the far-right's most detested Republicans and many of the Tea People will likely not be too pleased about this. Curiously, CPAC regular Mike Huckabee has declined this year's invitation.

Tweet Of The Day

Chris Christie: Parents Should Have A Choice On Vaccinating Their Children

Unbelievable:

Amid an outbreak of measles that has spread across 14 states, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey on Monday said that parents “need to have some measure of choice” about vaccinating their children against the virus, breaking with President Obama and much of the medical profession. In remarks here, Mr. Christie stopped short of recommending that parents immunize their children against measles, or any other illness, calling for “balance” and “choice.” Mr. Christie, when asked about the connection between the new measles cases and parents who object to the long-recommended vaccine against it, said that he and his wife had vaccinated their four children. He called that “the best expression I can give you of my opinion.” But he added: “It’s more important what you think as a parent than what you think as a public official. I also understand that parents need to have some measure of choice in things as well. So that’s the balance that the government has to decide.”

UPDATE: The backpedaling has already begun.

Today In Knowing Your Internet Acronyms

Details. (Tipped by JMG reader Mick)

Chris Christie Launches 2016 PAC

Via the Associated Press:

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has taken his firmest step yet toward running for president, launching an organization that allows him to raise money for a potential 2016 campaign. While not a formal entry into the race, opening the political action committee will allow Christie to begin to hire staffers, build the foundations of a campaign operation and travel across the country as he weighs a final decision on a run. The creation of the political action committee — called Leadership Matters for America — was widely expected, and comes not long after former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced in December he was launching a similar organization, which kicked off an aggressive race to lock down establishment donors and may have drawn 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney into the race. A mission statement on the organization's website echoes themes that Christie has focused in recent speeches, including remarks on Saturday in Iowa in front of conservative activists.

A recent poll showed Christie losing a potential matchup with Hillary Clinton by 13 points.

LIVE VIDEO: 2016 GOP Clown Car Revue

Rep. Steve King is holding his 2016 GOP Clown Car Revue in Iowa today and pretty much every right wing crackpot contender is there. The Des Moines Register is running a live stream and things are just now kicking off.

Strong Lead For Hillary In New WaPo Poll

Via the Washington Post:

Hillary Rodham Clinton holds double-digit leads over potential Republican challengers Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney as the likely Democratic presidential candidate moves closer to entering the race, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds. Although Clinton, Bush and Romney are all longtime politicians and members of political dynasties, registered voters are less likely to count that familiarity against Clinton. That is a good sign for Clinton, a failed 2008 presidential candidate and the focus of Republican criticism that her time has come and gone. Clinton’s potential to make history as the first female U.S. president makes little difference to most voters and is a net positive for others.

That 39% say they'd vote for Huckabee is rather mind-blowing.

Officials Rebel Against Port Authority Plan To End Overnight PATH Train Service

Nighttime workers and nightlife fans in New Jersey will soon have no way to get home from Manhattan if the Port Authority gets its way. Via the Jersey Journal:

Several Hudson County officials will join forces with other officials tomorrow to call on the Port Authority to to cancel its proposal to eliminate the overnight PATH service. The press conference, which will include federal, state, and local elected officials, is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Grove Street PATH Station in Jersey City.

A slew of officials are scheduled to attend, including Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, North Bergen Mayor and state Sen. Nick Sacco, Union City Mayor and state Sen. Brian Stack, and state Sen. Sandra Cunningham.

In a report released over the holidays -- and signed off on by Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo of New York -- the Port Authority proposes to eliminate PATH service 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. weeknights as a cost-savings measure. It would also affect hundreds of thousands more people if weekend overnight service were also eliminated, according to a press release. The PATH connects New York City with Jersey City, Newark, Harrison and Hoboken.

Jersey City residents have already suffered through two years of restricted service out of the World Trade Center station due to Hurricane Sandy-related repairs.

NOTE: For those wondering, a cab from downtown Manhattan to Newark will run you about $100 after you add in tolls and tip. It's about $40-$50 to Jersey City.

Chris Cristie Hecked At Sandy Event

Via ABC News:

This is why some people love him ... and some people hate him. N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, appearing along the Jersey Shore to mark the second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, got heckled by a local activist and former councilman. So Christie did what he does -- fire back. “I’m glad you had your day to show off, but we’re the ones who are here to actually do the work,” Christie said from behind an official podium placed in a Belmar, N.J., intersection. "So turn around, get your 15 minutes of fame and then maybe take your jacket off, roll up your sleeves and maybe do something for the people of this state." Christie summed up: “So listen, you want to have the conversation later, I’m happy to have it, buddy. But until that time, sit down and shut up.”

Tony Perkins: Jeb Bush And Chris Christie Were Not Invited To FRC Hate Summit

Perkins won't say so, of course, but Bush wasn't invited because he's "soft" on immigration and Christie wasn't invited because he dropped his same-sex marriage appeal to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Chris Christie To Koch Brothers: I've Already Lost 85 LBS, So, You Know, 2016

Via the New York Times:

Behind closed doors at David Koch’s Upper East Side apartment Friday night, Gov. Chris Christie told conservative donors that he has shed 85 pounds since undergoing weight loss surgery last year. The governor’s appearance – inside Mr. Koch’s sprawling 18-room duplex – was strictly off limits to the press, but a guest told us that Mr. Christie was pressed by donors about his health. He did not reveal his current weight, although he said he understood he had to slim down if he wanted to move beyond Trenton. And he brought the house down with a joke: “A doctor once told me you have to have the right relationship with the food you eat. And believe me, for many years, I had a great relationship with the foods I ate.” As he eyes a 2016 presidential bid, Mr. Christie has been assiduously courting Mr. Koch, founder of the advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, the beneficiary of the event.

According to a recent polls, Christie trails Hillary Clinton by nine points in a prospective 2016 match-up.

Christie Attacked From The Right

Via Mediaite:

A conservative group has a new ad out going after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for allowing a liberal state Supreme Court to run rampant and become “one of the most activist courts in the nation,” and the ad ties this straight into why 2016 matters. The spot, put out by Judicial Crisis Network (whose chief counsel and policy director used to be a law clerk for Clarence Thomas), says Christie had an opportunity to put in less liberal justices, but “over and over, he broke his promise.” It claims Christie had five openings but the court has stayed liberal, and uses a picture of Christie with President Obama to point out that one of Christie’s appointees was considered to be a federal appointee for the president.